3 answers
Emily
Student
Titusville, Florida
2
Questions
Updated
433 views
What are good degree options for a 20-year-old leaving ABA?
I’m 20 years old and planning to go to college. I’ve been in ABA for 7 months making $22/hr, and I don’t have a passion to pursue this field long-term. The job is both physically and mentally demanding, and I’ve received little to no support in what feels like an extremely unethical work environment.
Right now, my main focus is to get my associate’s degree, but I want out of ABA as quickly as possible. I’m looking for something that can lead to a stable, supportive, and beneficial career with opportunities to grow. I can’t do programs that require clinicals because I need to work full-time while in school, but I am open to other healthcare-related roles.
My main interests include psychology, law, beauty/cosmetology, and business. I’ve considered becoming a paralegal, but I live in a small city and I don’t think there are many job listings in that field. I’m open to other options as well—I just want something where I can get good support, decent pay, and long-term advancement opportunities.
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3 answers
Matt Kisling
Talent Acquisition
6
Answers
Mount Airy, Maryland
Updated
Matt’s Answer
Recognizing that a career isn't aligning with your values or mental health at 20 is a courageous step. Working in ABA can be tough and draining, and you deserve a supportive and ethical workplace. You're already earning $22/hr, so let's find a new role that matches or exceeds that pay without needing clinical rotations.
With your interests in psychology, law, beauty, and business, here are three promising Associate Degree paths that don't require clinicals, fit a full-time work schedule, and offer long-term growth.
Path 1: Human Resources (HR)
Combines: Business + Psychology
If you like understanding human behavior but prefer a structured setting, HR is a great option. It avoids the emotional strain of direct care while using your people skills.
Role: Manage employee relations, onboarding, benefits, and workplace culture.
Why it works in a small city: Every business, school, hospital, and government office needs HR staff. Plus, many HR jobs are now hybrid or remote.
Degree: Associate in Business Administration or Human Resources (available online).
Pay & Growth: Entry-level HR roles pay about $20 to $28/hr ($42,000–$58,000/yr), with potential to earn $80,000+ as you advance.
Path 2: Healthcare Administration or Health Information Management
Combines: Business + Healthcare (No Clinicals)
With your healthcare background, you can move to the administrative side of medicine.
Role: Manage medical offices, compliance, health records, or patient scheduling.
Why it suits you: These are fully administrative programs you can do online while working full-time. No clinical rotations involved.
Degree: Associate of Applied Science in Healthcare Administration or Health Information Technology.
Pay & Growth: Entry-level roles pay $22 to $26/hr, with strong opportunities for advancement in clinic management.
Path 3: Beauty/Cosmetology Corporate Roles
Combines: Business + Beauty
You don't have to be a stylist to work in beauty. Big beauty brands need business support.
Role: Store management, regional coordination, marketing assistant, or supply chain coordinator.
How to start: Consider working full-time as an administrative assistant or counter manager at a beauty retailer or spa. This shifts you from ABA, pays well, and builds business experience.
Degree: Associate in Business Administration or Marketing.
Pay & Growth: Retail/spa management starts at $20 to $25/hr, with higher pay in corporate roles.
Tips for a Safe Transition
Prioritize your mental health by seeking entry-level Administrative Assistant, Receptionist, or Office Coordinator roles now. These jobs pay $18–$23/hr and offer a way out of the challenging ABA environment while boosting your resume.
Explore Local Government: In small cities, places like the county courthouse, city hall, and school boards offer stable clerical or legal clerk jobs with good benefits and ethical standards.
With your interests in psychology, law, beauty, and business, here are three promising Associate Degree paths that don't require clinicals, fit a full-time work schedule, and offer long-term growth.
Path 1: Human Resources (HR)
Combines: Business + Psychology
If you like understanding human behavior but prefer a structured setting, HR is a great option. It avoids the emotional strain of direct care while using your people skills.
Role: Manage employee relations, onboarding, benefits, and workplace culture.
Why it works in a small city: Every business, school, hospital, and government office needs HR staff. Plus, many HR jobs are now hybrid or remote.
Degree: Associate in Business Administration or Human Resources (available online).
Pay & Growth: Entry-level HR roles pay about $20 to $28/hr ($42,000–$58,000/yr), with potential to earn $80,000+ as you advance.
Path 2: Healthcare Administration or Health Information Management
Combines: Business + Healthcare (No Clinicals)
With your healthcare background, you can move to the administrative side of medicine.
Role: Manage medical offices, compliance, health records, or patient scheduling.
Why it suits you: These are fully administrative programs you can do online while working full-time. No clinical rotations involved.
Degree: Associate of Applied Science in Healthcare Administration or Health Information Technology.
Pay & Growth: Entry-level roles pay $22 to $26/hr, with strong opportunities for advancement in clinic management.
Path 3: Beauty/Cosmetology Corporate Roles
Combines: Business + Beauty
You don't have to be a stylist to work in beauty. Big beauty brands need business support.
Role: Store management, regional coordination, marketing assistant, or supply chain coordinator.
How to start: Consider working full-time as an administrative assistant or counter manager at a beauty retailer or spa. This shifts you from ABA, pays well, and builds business experience.
Degree: Associate in Business Administration or Marketing.
Pay & Growth: Retail/spa management starts at $20 to $25/hr, with higher pay in corporate roles.
Tips for a Safe Transition
Prioritize your mental health by seeking entry-level Administrative Assistant, Receptionist, or Office Coordinator roles now. These jobs pay $18–$23/hr and offer a way out of the challenging ABA environment while boosting your resume.
Explore Local Government: In small cities, places like the county courthouse, city hall, and school boards offer stable clerical or legal clerk jobs with good benefits and ethical standards.
Jade Finley
Art Therapist & Communications Coordinator
4
Answers
Louisville, Kentucky
Updated
Jade’s Answer
Leaving ABA at 20 is a wise choice, given the physical, mental, and ethical challenges you've faced. You have many degree options that don't require clinical rotations and can lead to stable careers with growth opportunities. If you like psychology but prefer non-clinical work, consider a degree in non-clinical psychology for roles in case management, research coordination, HR, or behavioral health administration. If law interests you, paralegal or legal studies are good choices, offering jobs in government, hospitals, insurance companies, and corporate offices. Business administration is a safe path for long-term stability, leading to careers in HR, project management, operations, marketing, and entrepreneurship. For healthcare-related work without clinicals, healthcare administration provides steady hours and pay. You might also explore beauty-industry entrepreneurship with a cosmetology license or business degree. Criminal justice combines psychology and law, leading to careers in victim advocacy, court administration, and investigations support. While pursuing your associate's degree, you can quickly leave ABA by taking roles like administrative assistant, HR assistant, patient services representative, or legal secretary, which offer stability and less emotional stress. Based on your interests and need to work full-time without clinicals, business administration, paralegal studies, and healthcare administration are the best fits, offering good pay, supportive environments, and clear career paths.
Shelly Lin
Forensic Consultant
68
Answers
Sturbridge, Massachusetts
Updated
Shelly’s Answer
Based on the information you've shared, and recognizing that career opportunities vary by location and individual circumstances, I would encourage you not to choose a degree solely as a way to leave your current role. Instead, look for a program that aligns with your interests while providing long-term flexibility. To my knowledge, degrees in business, accounting, finance, information systems, or human resources generally offer broad career opportunities across many industries and typically do not require clinical placements. If you remain interested in psychology or law, those can also be good options, but I would recommend researching the career paths, local demand, and any additional qualifications that may be needed. Given that you plan to work full-time while studying, choosing a program that fits your schedule and allows you to build practical experience along the way may be just as important as the degree itself.